Import curbs: Sri Lanka keen to uplift agricultural industry

COLOMBO: Imports should be restricted in order to control foreign exchange parity rates and to get rid of high debt burden on farmers in Sri Lanka, said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

President Rajapaksa emphasized that appropriate measures will be taken to reduce the cost of living by implementing the decisions already taken while adhering to a consistent policy without moving backwards.

Prices of several consumer goods, including turmeric, have risen due to decisions taken to uplift local agricultural industry and the farming community. President Rajapaksa points out that if turmeric and other commodities are imported to control or bring prices down, the desired objective will never be achieved.

The President says that even though public faced difficulties for a short period of time, measures that are taken to strengthen the rural economy and uplift the farming community cannot be reversed.

The President made these remarks on Monday at the first cabinet sub committee meeting on cost of living held at the Presidential Secretariat.